Meeting with US Secretary brings in a ray of hope in the future to Sri Lankan Tamils

Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with the Tamil National Alliance leaders which focused mainly on four major issues – such as resettlement of the war displaced and releasing Security Forces’ occupied lands to their original owners, pruning Security Forces’ presence in the north, missing persons, political prisoners and alleged war crimes and a comprehensive political settlement for the national issue.

Kerry has told the delegation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) prior to his departure, that the US will continue to pursue the question of war crimes and accountability at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), but Washington also expects the Tamil and Sinhalese leaders of Sri Lanka to take a constructive approach to the issue and not act in ways that prevent a mutually acceptable settlement from emerging.

The top US diplomat had for 30-minute meeting with TNA leader R.Sampanthan and MPs Mavai Senathirajah, Selvam Adaikalanathan, Suresh Premachandran and M A Sumanthiran as well with the chief minister of the northern province, C V Wigneswaran, at his hotel in Colombo.

Chief Minister Wigneswaran gave Kerry two documents detailing the situation and problems in the Northern province.

The TNA had also said that the ongoing military presence over civilian areas of land, despite the end of the armed conflict, is continuing to cause difficulties to displaced persons and hinder their resettlement.

Kerry said the TNA should use this opportunity brought about by the change in government and political climate to heal the wounds of the conflict, to bring about good relations and reconciliation between the races.

Kerry, who left the country yesterday to Kenya, after concluding his one-day visit, already held talks with President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and several other government officials.

According to Suresh Premachndran MP and TNA Spokesman, US Secretary John Kerry had said that he will do his best to help us in resolving the outstanding issues. He said the U.S. will take up these issues with the hierarchy of the government,”

Many issues including the disappeared and Tamil political prisoners were also discussed, he added.

He (Kerry) said he will do his best to support us to resolve outstanding issues," Suresh Premachandran told after their 30-minute meeting at Kerry's hotel in the capital Colombo.

"They (US) will also keep pushing for reconciliation, justice and accountability," he added, referring to alleged war crimes committed by government forces in the final stages of the conflict that ended in May 2009.

Furthermore, Kerry had agreed that it was important to release the Security Forces’ occupied lands in the conflict affected areas to their original owners.

Kerry had said the new government has already taken some positive measures to solve outstanding issues and added however the U.S. will keep a close eye on future developments. With regard to missing persons and alleged war crimes, Kerry had said the U.S. will keep pushing for justice and accountability. Premachandran said Kerry had also promised to take up the issue of political prisoners with government leaders.

Kerry had reiterated that the U.S. will do its best to support Sri Lanka to achieve true reconciliation and a long standing political solution to the national question.